by Kile Smith | Nov 20, 2019 | CDs, Choral music, Spirituality
Canticle helps propel Blanton Alspaugh to a 2020 Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year, Classical. Canticle is a 65-minute work setting The Spiritual Canticle of St. John of the Cross. For chorus, three cellos, and percussion, it is listed with seven other CDs...
by Kile Smith | Nov 20, 2019 | CDs, Choral music
Received texts of “Congrats” this morning, which puzzled me, as I didn’t know what I was being congratulated for. But then the news started slipping out that The Crossing received two nominations for Best Choral Performance for the 2020 Grammy...
by Kile Smith | Oct 1, 2019 | Choral music, new music
The Dawn’s Early Light. SATB, Cello, Four Guitars, 19′. Text: Life Among the Piutes (1883), Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins (c.1844–1891), ed. K.S., and “The Star-Spangled Banner” (1814), Francis Scott Key (1779–1843). Commissioned for Conspirare and Craig Hella...
by Kile Smith | Sep 7, 2019 | CD Reviews, CDs, Choral music
Laurence Vittes praises The Arc in the Sky, the CD The Crossing, directed by Donald Nally, released this summer on Navona, in a thoughtful October 2019 Gramophone magazine review. My description of the work as a “65-minute pilgrimage for unaccompanied...
by Kile Smith | Apr 21, 2019 | Anthem, Choral music, church music, new music, Organ music
Sing, Choirs of New Jerusalem. SATB, organ, opt. brass quintet, timpani (also opt. 2 violins and brass quartet). 4′. Commissioned by the Presbyterian Church of Barrington, Kirsten Hedegaard, Chorus Director, for Easter Sunday, April 21st, 2019. Premiered there...
by Kile Smith | Feb 28, 2019 | Anthem, Choral music, church music, new music, Organ music
Jubilate Deo. 6′. 2019. SATB, organ. Psalm 100, Latin. Commissioned by Ursinus College and dedicated to Dr. John French, on the occasion of his 40th anniversary of service to Ursinus College. Premiered 28 April 2019, Ursinus College Choir and Meistersingers,...